The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-08
THE DAILY NEWS
TALE OF A TELEGRAM.

Maud EstaprCCA hau Just turned to re-
trace her steps up the avenue, when,
CHANGING round, she saw n young man
emerging from the shadow of one of the
great willows that guarded the gate. As
he pulled off his hat with low bow, the
sunlight brought out the FURNISHED black
of his close cut hair, and threw into
stronger relief his bronzed, handsome
face, TO which N slight scar on one cheek
gave touch of the romantic and pict-
uresque- so thought Maud, after her
brief, comprehensive survey.
Il beg your PARDON said the stranger,
tanning himself with his straw hat ms he
spoke, but can you tell me If MIR. Esta-
brook is here?''
''Oh,'' thought Maud, Zone of Toms
friends" Then, aloud, ''Yes-that is, he
lives here, but he isn't at home to-day"
As the newcomer stood irresolute,
Maud gave him another quick look, which
summed up his whole appearance, from
his six feet of stature and the light pedes-
TRAN garb that set it off, to the knapsack
hanging over his broad shoulders. Then
she said, hesitatfngly: s'FIe may be back
tonight, perhaps. Won't you come up to
the house and rest? It is so warm! And
my mother will be glad to see any friend
of Toms"
The young man returned her inquiring
glance as he answered, also with some
hesitation: Thanks. 1t is very warm,
certainly. I should be delighted to pay
my respects to-Mrs- Estabrook, If she
will permit me"
With that he put on his hat again, and
the two walked along together under the
blossoning acacia trees, while he intro
duced himself as Marston Folliott, just
ROW pedestrianizing in that region. To
which she responded with the informal
tor, that she was Toms sister,
In this way they reached the house,
where Mrs. Estabrook was discovered i'll
the cool north parlor. She received her
sons friend very Hospitality, inviting him
to await Toms return, which was ex-
pCcted by the next morning at latest
MIR. FoiliOtt's manner was again heSi-
tating, he half glanced toward Maud.
81 really ought not to take advantage"
he began.
But Mrs. Estabrook, "a nervous, excit
able woman, given to starts and broken
sentences, interrupted him: mo, mol
Pray don't say Really, it would re-
lieve my mind, now that my son is away;
and of course Peter must choose this very
time Maud, Peter hasn't come back
YETI No, not man on the place, and
This + such solitary neighborhOodl
Burglars and tramps would have us quite
mt Their mercy"
50 the young man accepted the urgent
inv ,tation, and the afternoon wore away
pleasantly, with music and conversation,
and strolling about the grounds.
IL was almost tea time. The two ladies
with their guest were sitting on the breezy
piazza when a telegraph messenger came
up the steps, delivered his yellow covered
inissive and was OFF again like n shot out
OF sight.
''From Tom, probably" said Mrs. Esta-
brook. MIR. Folliott, you will excuse
me-"
She broke open the envelope, while the
conversation between the two young peo-
pie went on But it was suddenly inter
rupted by an inarticulate sound from Mrs.
Estabrook, and looking around, they saw
her white and trembling. Maud ran to
her mother and put her arm about her.
II hope you have received no bad
news''-began Mr.. Folliott. But as he
advanced Mrs. Estabrook waved him
back, with poor attempt at u smile.
''Oh, no, not bad Mt all-only n little-a
little-uncxpected.' ~ Then she conveyed
IA silent summons to Maud's anxious eye,
adding with the same forced lightness, IF
you VIII excuse cur leaving you alone for
u moment Mr.. Folllott, / have n little
household matter to arrange with my
daughter, That is all, indeed. 1t is only
for u Elomcnt-only moment, l assure
You"
AS they withdrew she sedulously re-
turned Mr.. Folliott's bow, all the while
preserving set smile strangely at va
rance with her pale face. But no sooner
had they entered the house than it
dropped away, as she turned to her
daughter and said, in hollow whisper:
Maud, that man is a burglar?'
Maud stared at this startling announce
Ineut ''What man, mamma?'
That man cut there-that FOlliott, as
he c;:lI, himself. He isn't a friend of
Toms. Just read this-from Amelia
AiauI took the telegram, which was
nlilcG distant. This was what it con-
tained:
Have Just learned from nursemaid of
suspicious stranger making her acquaint-
ance Asked all about The Willows and
number of inmates. Seemed to know
something of Tom. Tall, dark, gentxe
manly looking, and has scar on one
check. Look out for him."
elias II scar ON one cheekH' echoed
Maut, family, after an instant's blank
silence.
s.3A Maud, what shall we do ?'' moaned
Mrs. Eatcbroo,s, sinking into seat.
''And we have actually invited him to tea
ii burglar! Well, for friend, thought
lie seemed very uncertain about Tom"
ii noticed that too, !" answered Maud,
with bent brow, recalling n certain I'M
readiness OF tone and manner which had
struck her as strange ut the time. ''Mam-
ma" she continued, I'VE must send Bird
get or Maggie over to the village for
help
$40, almost screamed Mrs. Estabrook,
'1not another person must leave the house
Oh, how could Peter choose the very day
T'om was gone When he knows how
nervous | am, too and to think / told
that-that desperate out there, that there
wasn't u man about the place Maud
Maud what shall we do -
Il think have plan, mamma" said
Maud. raising her head from her brown
study. wait moment" She flew
upstairs and down again Now come
out on the piazza. He mustn't suspect
anything
The two ladies rejoined their unwelcomc
guest, and Mrs. Estabrook rushed into
fcyerish conversation with him. But her
talk was of singularly warlike kind,
turning mainly upon revolvers and the
proficiency atLained in the Use of these
deadly weapons by Bridget and Maggie,
two unsophsticated handmaitens, who in
fact would not have known u toy pistol
from q Gatlins; gun. Maud, in spite OF
her tension of anxiety, grew speeches.
with LAUGHTER behind her fan, as she lis
tened furtiVcly watching the strangers
face and noting his just controlled I'M
-easiness. Finally, like one who takes n
resolution, he began abruptly:
i really am in very false position''-
'.Oh. l beg your pardon, Mr. Folliott,"
quickly utefposed Maud, fearing that in
MS rising suspicious she would lose her
carefully prepared coup. IF you would
like To r>.l.stvc any lingering dust of travel
You have la.t tame before tea y
The y1,-u r ,Ja rose III this hint, and
r!au 3. tu......t-. .s to show tie way, ac-
tt,s-f--..:'-t - t'lc IIra,.I staircase and
sulilingly indicated the room where his
knapsick had been left No sooner had